Homer city election: Introducing the candidates

In the pause between the state and federal August primary and the November general election, the city of Homer holds its election on Oct. 4 for Homer mayor and two Homer City Council member seats.

Over the next three weeks, the Homer News will look at those races. This week we invited candidates to submit personal information and a statement. Next week for the Sept. 22 issue they will be asked to answer a series of questions. For the Sept. 29 issue, candidates can submit a point of view.

With no one filing to run against him at the close of the city of Homer filing period on Monday, Homer Mayor Ken Castner will coast easily to re-election. First elected in 2019, Castner runs for his third term in the two-year seat.

Running for city council are five candidates seeking to win one of two three-year seats up for election. Of the five, the top-two candidates win election provided they receive a plurality of votes. For a race of five or more seats, that number is 35%. In order of filing, the candidates for city council are incumbent Jason Davis, Kenneth Bryant, Mark Gordon, incumbent Storm P. Hansen, and Jay Baker. For more information on the candidates and how to vote, visit https://www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/cityclerk/candidates-2022-regular-city-election.

Letters were sent to the emails of the candidates listed on the city website. Gordon and Baker did not respond by the deadline.

Candidate for Homer Mayor (2-year seat)

Ken Castner

Age: 70

Residential address as used in your current voter registration: 196 Mountain View Dr.

Contact information: email kcastner@tonsina.biz; phone 907-235-9028; no website

Place of birth: Portland, Maine

Years and places lived in Alaska; May, 1973 – Present Homer area

Years lived in Homer: 49

Education, including degree and years of graduation or attendance: Some college

Current occupation and years employed or in business: Consulting work for large construction projects – especially public works

Previous occupations or businesses: Commercial fisherman and tender operator

Elected or appointed experience, including boards and commissions: Mayor of Homer for previous 4 years

Community service: Homer Foundation Trustee, Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Commission, various task forces

Hobbies or interests: Technical theater (Homer Nutcracker Productions for 34 years), Bridge player and sport fisherman.

Candidates for Homer Council member

Of the five candidates, voters select up to two candidates, with the top-two winning two 3-year seats. Candidates are listed in the order they filed for election.

Jason Davis (incumbent)

Age: 59

Residential address as used in your current voter registration: 693 Rangeview Ave, Homer

Contact information: email: jasondavis63@gmail.com Phone: (907) 690-1786 Website: www.sweetgalewines.com

Place of birth: Moses Lake, Washington

Years and places lived in Alaska: Kasilof (1967-73), Soldotna (1973-1980), Soldotna (home leave address and domicile during federal service overseas, 1990-2013), Homer (2017-present).

Years lived in Homer: 5

Education, including degree and years of graduation or attendance: Bachelor of Science in Biology, Biola University, 1984

Current occupation and years employed or in business: Owner and winemaker at Sweetgale Meadworks & Cider House on Main Street in Homer, two years.

Previous occupations or businesses: Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Dept of State, 1990-2013; Sales Associate, Terra Firma Global Partners, Santa Rosa, California, 2013-2015.

Other professional experience: DJ and newscaster, KSRM Radio (Kenai), 1977-80

Elected or appointed experience, including boards and commissions: Homer City Council member, 2021-present; Commissioner at Homer Planning Commission, 2018-2020; Board Member at Pratt Museum, 2018-2021.

Community service: Secretary and co-founder of HABA (Homer-Area Beekeepers Association), Secretary and Board Member, Pratt Museum, occasional worship leader and Sunday School teacher, Homer United Methodist Church.

Hobbies or interests: Hiking, running, boating, beekeeping, gardening.

Statement: After a year on the council I am eager to continue work on several projects that have not yet been completed, particularly the effort to revamp and modernize our city’s approach to zoning, with the aim of encouraging greater downtown density and providing more housing for our growing workforce. Ordinance 22-42, which I co-sponsored with Councilmember Shelly Erickson, is currently being reviewed by the Planning Commission and by the Parks, Art, Recreation and Culture Commission. This ordinance aims to ensure that all new neighborhoods built in Homer going forward will have sidewalks on any streets that lead to schools, parks and downtown. As these efforts move forward I will seek new opportunities to help Homer thrive economically, socially and environmentally.

Kenny Bryant

Age: 37

Residential address as used in your current voter registration: 1103 Ocean Dr., Homer, AK 99603

Contact information:

email: wreckinexperts@gmail.com; phone: 907-435 7201

Place of birth: Salmon, Idaho

Years and places lived in Alaska: 24 years, all in Homer

Years lived in Homer: 24

Education, including degree and years of graduation or attendance: High school

Current occupation and years employed or in business: Currently I’m on hiatus from a full-time occupation. After selling my tow company in January of this year I decided to take some time and focus more on short-term projects. Before this i operated and owned ACE towing for 5 years.

Previous occupations or businesses: Before owning ACE towing I worked at Automotive Collision Experts, the auto body shop located at the base of the Spit here in Homer.

Other professional experience: In terms of applicable skills relating to the position I’m seeking? “Other professional experience” seems like a round about way of asking if someone isn’t cut out to have a seat on city council then what else are you qualified to do? My applicable professional experience is that I show up to every meeting and I engage in debates and the decisions being made. My experience is based in my active engagement.

Elected or appointed experience, including boards and commissions: Current executive board member of the Homer Chamber of Commerce

Community service: I’ve been involved in numerous community functions, organizations and nonprofits throughout the years. I don’t believe it’s in good taste to list or itemize community service or selflessness. I believe one should help people when and where they can because they believe it’s the right thing to do, not so they can humbly brag about it later when the opportunity arises.

Hobbies or interests: I enjoy learning about new discoveries and philosophies and expanding my understanding of the world and why it is the way it is. I’m a firm believer that while knowledge is a key component to moving forward, there is still no replacement for good, old fashioned hard work. I would have to say my hobbies and interests are working both physically and mentally.

Mark Gordon (did not respond)

Storm P. Hansen (incumbent)

Age: 48

Residential address as used in your current voter registration: 408 Rangeview Ave.

Contact information: email: stormcavasos@gmail.com

Place of birth: Anchorage, Alaska

Years and places lived in Alaska: 48. I have lived in Alaska my whole life. I was born in anchorage at ANMC and raised and live in Homer, Alaska since then.

Years lived in Homer: 48

Education, including degree and years of graduation or attendance: High school diploma

Current occupation and years employed or in business: I work for South Peninsula Hospital at Homer Medical Center for just short of 23 years.

Previous occupations or businesses: In my younger years I worked at Timeless Toys on the weekends and HMC during the week, also worked in coffee shops for much of my young adult life.

Elected or appointed experience, including boards and commissions: I’ve been an active Homer City Councilmember for the last three years, currently on the Shareholder Participation Committee for Tyonek Native Corporation, Alaska Wrestling Women’s Director from 2015-2018, Club Manager for Popeye Wrestling Club from 2013-2018

Community service:

Hobbies or interests: I enjoy baking/cooking, knitting and most other crafts, gardening, reading and helping friends/family.

Jay Baker (did not respond)